My ear is clogged and I am going insane

[MamaJenese]

I have had a runny nose for a littel bit and now my ear is so clogged it is making me insane. If I move wrong I get the spins, I feel like I am listening to everyone underwater. I have been using my Neti pot and my sinus feel great but my damn ear!!! Oh and I am about 5 weeks pregnant. HELP before I go nuts!!!!!

[Addy's Mom]

Ugh, I'm sorry. There's nothing worse than being sick while pregnant and since both my husband and I have had plugged up ears recently, I really feel your pain.

Nothing seemed to make ours go away other than time. We did lots of saline (and yes, I did decongestants because I was desparate). Steamy showers, humidifier running nonstop. Drinking lots of fluids, especially warm stuff like chicken soup and tea, and really just supporting our immune systems. It took us each about a week to feel better.

But hopefully others will have much wiser advice than I do. Hope you feel better soon.

[MMMOM]

I've gotten water in my ears using the Neti pot.

[ASusan]

I have made a stuffed ear into an ear infection after a Neti pot. (admitedly, I am a novice, so my technique could be to blame)

Massage from behind and under your ear, down your neck/throat, to your collar bone.

An ear candle?

[pammysue]

I would try pouring a little hydrogen peroxide in the ear to help "melt" the wax away. If that doesn't work, call your dr. They can help you get out the wax (if that is the problem) by irrigating your ear with water. There are also over-the-counter wax softeners.

[ttcintexas]

Chiropractor? I know it's good for kids with ear infections.

[EdnaMarie]

Chew gum. Lots of gum. Just pop in two sticks and chew ferociously. I avoided an ear infection that way. Chewing the gum literally breaks up the gunk in your ear passage so it can move down (because your jaw moves around the cavities near your ear and sinuses). I could feel the gunk crackling in there when I was chewing. I could also feel it breaking apart- it was a physical sensation.

I also used the neti pot, but honestly, I don't think that helped much. I think it stays more in the nasal sinuses.

Also, force fluids (drink tons of anything without caffeine or alcohol) and try keeping a kettle steaming or using a vaporizer, anything to keep that gunk as liquid as possible.

Hydrogen peroxide will only work on your outer ear, so it will not help with inner ear problems. If you're feeling dizzy, wax is not likely the cause of your problems.

Good luck!

ETA- I should note that I do not have chronic ear problems, so this advice is for someone who is suffering from a cold or virus that is abnormal for them. Not for people who have chronic ear issues. Obviously that would require more than just working the fluid down the tubes. I just had that one cold.

[KatWrangler]

I have problems with my ears.

Anyway, try pinching your nose and yawn really wide. I went to an ENT last year and he suggested it. It worked on one ear for a short period of time, but then I went back to popping in my ears.

[luv-my-boys]

if your ear feels "stuffed" and you are getting dizzy its most likely fluid buildup in your ear. Fluid can come from a variety of reasons, I have had some tell me the had problems after using a netipot but things like allergies or just a plain old cold can do it. I get it quite frequently but I have allergies. but you definately want to get the fluid drained because thats when it can lead to an infection, not always but sometimes.


I do take a decongestant to help relieve soem of the pressure and usually it does help the tube so it can drain better. i have done candling in the past but for me it hasnt worked for the fluid. I use it to make them "pop" after i travel on airplanes, another annoying ear problem I have.

I have had people recommend gently massage behind your ear, around your mastoid to see if it helps. dont press too hard though. another poster mentioned chewing ridiculous amts of gum which I've tried as well. not sure if any one thing helps but all in conjunction it might.

[dairy2dogs]

A couple years ago I got fluid in my ear that I just couldn't clear. I'd tried decongestants, anti-histamines, garlic ear drops, chiropractic, different herbs. Finally I went to an acupuncturist and it cleared up in two treatments.